One should only buy the Daled Minim from a reliable vendor who ensures that they are not grafted, and that there is no concern of Gezel, Shemitah, Tevel and Orlah. One should not buy the Daled Minim from a child under Bar Mitzvah, as he does not have the Halachic ability to allow others to acquire from him.
One should endeavour to purchase a Daled Minim set which is Mehudar (beautiful). It is not appropriate to boast about the beauty of one’s set.
Chabad have the custom to use an Etrog of the Calabria (
The Etrog is preferably yellow like beeswax and not green.
An Etrog is acceptable if the Pittam fell off due to natural causes whilst still on the tree. [An indentation in the place of the Pittam indicates that it fell off whilst the Etrog was still growing.]
If the Pittam fell off after the Etrog was detached from the tree, it is acceptable only if the base of the Pittam is still intact and protrudes above the tip of the Etrog.
Greater emphasis is placed on the actual beauty of the Etrog than on whether it is missing a Pittam (in a Halachically acceptable manner).
White, black or deep red/brown discoloration that can be seen at first glance when the Etrog is held at hand’s length: If located on the upper side of the Etrog, from the area where the Etrog begins to slope inwards, it is Passul. If located on the underside of the Etrog in the area of the stem, it is Kosher. If located anywhere else, it is Kosher – unless the discoloration spans the majority, or there are two such spots (or more).
Preferably, the Lulav is:
- Not rounded at the top (
- Some are not particular and some even prefer Knepplach.
- Some including Chabad have the custom to make sure the Lulav has
- Is tall and straight (according to Chabad).
- Has a straight and well-centred spine (according to Chabad).
- Is not thin (according to Chabad).
One must purchase a Lulav whose central leaf is completely closed. Nevertheless, one’s Lulav may still be used if a minority of the central leaf split. On Chol Hamoed, it may be used even if the central leaf completely split, as long as the actual spine is intact.
The Lulav is acceptable if its tip is sunburnt, but not if it is snipped.
It is best to select Hadassim and Aravot whose leaves are all intact and fresh.
Some have the custom to add at least three extra Hadassim to the basic minimum of 3, The Lubavitcher Rebbe would have 36.
There are many other Halachot pertaining to the Kashrut of the Daled Minim. If in doubt, approval should be sought from someone well-versed in the relevant Halachot.
It is best that a separate Daled Minim set be purchased for a boy under Bar Mitzvah if he is old enough to perform the Na’anuim.
One may not use Maaser funds for his own (or dependent’s) Daled Minim, but may use it to provide others with a set.
